Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Birth "Plan" rough draft

Now I know the idea of a birth "plan" is kinda funny, because nobody has a real plan for what's going to happen (except God!). But everyone says it's good to take one to our doctor, and also to the hospital for the staff to follow.

We are planning to review this with the doc next week (the yes/no is for him to respond). So I guess you could say in an ideal world where everything is perfect and sunny, this is the way we would like it to happen.

What do you think...good, crazy? Ambitious for sure!! Watch- I will have to be medically induced, end up taking every drug they give me and have to have a c-section. But hey, if that happens we will have to be flexible. As long as Pebbles gets out healthy and happy right??

ATTENDANTS AND AMENITIESI'd like the following people to be allowed during early/transitional labor:Yes No • Partner: Jeremy BenningtonYes No • Friend/s: Erin BrentonYes No • Relative/s: Terri and Terry Sargent (parents) • Relative/s: Any other relatives present at hospital I'd like the following people to be allowed during hard labor/birth:Yes No • Partner Only : Jeremy Bennington I'd also like:Yes No • To bring musicYes No • To dim the lights

LABORYes No I'd like the option of returning home if I'm not in active laborOnce I'm admitted, I'd like:Yes No • My partner to be allowed to stay with me at all timesYes No • To eat if I wish toYes No • To stay hydrated by drinking clear fluids instead of an IVYes No • To have a heparin or saline lock As long as the baby and I are doing fine, I'd like:Yes No • To have intermittent rather than continuous fetal onitoringYes No • To move about freely if possibleYes No • To be allowed to progress free of stringent time limitsIf they're available, I'd like to try:Yes No • A birthing pool/tub (for comfort not waterbirth) I'd like to bring the following birthing equipment with me:Yes No • Other: yoga ballWhen it's time to push, I'd like to:Yes No • Do so instinctively I'd like to try the following positions for pushing (and birth):Yes No • Semi-recliningYes No • Side-lying positionYes No • SquattingYes No • Whatever feels right at the timeYes No As long as my baby and I are doing fine, I'd like the pushing stage to be allowed to progress free of stringent time limits

PAIN RELIEFI'd like to try the following pain-management techniques:Yes No • Bath/showerYes No • Breathing techniques/distractionYes No • MassageYes No Please don't offer me pain medication. I'll request it if I need it.

If I decide I want medicinal pain relief, I'd prefer:Yes No • Regional analgesia (an epidural and/or spinal block)Yes No • No Analgesic medication such as DemoralYes No • Would like to explore use of a pudendal block rather than epidural

VAGINAL BIRTHI'd like:Yes No • The room to be as quiet as possibleYes No • To try perineal massage before assuming need for episiotomyYes No • To risk a tear rather than have an episiotomy After birth, I'd like:Yes No • To hold my baby right away, putting off any procedures that aren't urgentYes No • To breastfeed as soon as possibleYes No • My partner to cut the umbilical cord

C-SECTIONIf I have a c-section, I'd like:Yes No • My partner present at all times during the operationYes No • The baby given to my partner as soon as he's dried (as long as he's in good health)Yes No • To breastfeed my baby in the recovery room

POSTPARTUMAfter delivery, I'd like:Yes No • To stay in a private roomYes No • To have a cot provided for my partner I plan to:Yes No • Breastfeed exclusivelyThe following can be offered to my baby:Yes No • Please don't offer formula, sugar water or pacifier to my baby at any point

Tessa

Born in April 2007....sweet, kind hearted, goofy as all get out, world traveling enthusiastic foodie, ballerina, basketballer, little Mommy and queen of the one-liners.

Charley

Born in Jan 2009 (the baby that was almost birthed on the side of the road)....super affectionate, positive, blonde, loves playing with other kids, obsessed with Star Wars, and so social and talkative that he often gets himself in trouble for it.

Crosby

Born in September of 2015, our 'bonus baby' that has perfectly rounded out our family.